MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9 Arithmetic: Fractions
and Percentages
9.1 Revision of Operations with Fractions
In this section we revise the basic use of fractions.

Addition

a c
a+c
+
=
b b
b

Note that, for addition of fractions, in this way both

fractions must have the same denominator.
Multiplication

a c
ac

=
b d
bd

Division

a c
a d

b d
b c
ad
=
bc

Example 1
Calculate:
(a)

3 4
+
5 5

(b)

3 1
+
7 3

Solution
(a)

3 4
3+4
+
=
5 5
5

7
5

= 1
(b)

2
5

3 1
9
7
+
+
=
7 3
21 21

(common denominator = 21)

16
21
142

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

Example 2
Calculate:
(a)

3
of 48
4

(b)

3
of 32
5

(b)

1 2
1
2 5

Solution
(a)

3
3
of 48 =
48
4
4
3 48
4

= 36
(b)

3
3
of 32 =
32
5
5

3 32
5

96
5

= 19

1
5

Example 3
Calculate:
(a)

3 3

4 7

Solution
(a)

33
3 3
=

47
4 7
9
28

(b)

1 2
3 2
=
1

2 5
2 5
=

6
10

3
5

or

1 2
3 2
=
1

1 2
2 5
5
=

143

3
5

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.1
Example 4
Calculate:
3 3
(a)

7 4

(b)

3 4

4 5

Solution
(a)

(b)

3 3
3 4
=

7 4
7 3
12
=
21
4
=
7
1

or

1 3
3 3
4
=

7 4
7 31
4
=
7

3 4
7 4

=
4 5
4 5

7 5

4 4

35
16

=2

3
16

Exercises
1.

2.

Calculate:
(a)

1 4
+
7 7

(b)

3 7
+
8 8

(c)

1 7
+
9 9

(d)

3
1
+
10 10

(e)

7
9
+
13 13

(f)

6 5
+
7 7

(g)

5 3

7 7

(h)

7 4

9 9

(i)

11 6

13 13

(b)

1 1
+
5 7

(c)

1 1
+
4 5

Calculate:
1 1
+
(a)
2 3
(d)

2 1
+
3 2

(e)

7
3
+
8 10

(f)

3 4
+
4 5

(g)

3 2
+
7 3

(h)

4 2
+
9 3

(i)

1 5
+
4 8

144

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

Calculate:
(a)

1
1
1 +2
2
2

(b)

3
1
+4
4
4

(c)

3
1
+3
5
5

(d)

1
1
3 +1
3
2

(e)

4
3
+2
5
5

(f)

4
4
+3
7
7

(g)

(h)

2
1
+3
7
3

(i)

5
2
+3
9
3

(b)

3
1
3
4
4

(c)

3
1
2
8
4

3
5
+2
4
8

Calculate:
1
1
(a) 2 1
2
2

(d)

5
6
3
7
7

(e)

5
7
3 1
8
8

(f)

1
1
3
3
2

(g)

2
1
1
3
9

(h)

3
1
2
7
2

(i)

1
2
2
4
3

Calculate:
(a)

1
of 20
4

(b)

1
of 30 kg
5

(c)

3
of 32
4

(d)

4
of 90 kg
5

(e)

5
of 49 kg
7

(f)

3
of 20 m
8

(g)

3
of 36
5

(h)

7
of 42 m
10

Calculate:
1 1

(a)
2 4

(b)

3 1

8 5

(c)

2 3

3 5

(d)

6 2

7 3

(e)

4 3

5 4

(f)

4 3

7 5

(g)

1 3

2 4

(h)

4 3

9 7

(i)

1 4

8 5

(b)

3 8

4 9

(c)

3 4

5 5

Calculate:
1 1
(a)

2 3
(d)

7 1

10 2

(e)

3 3

4 5

(f)

5 7

9 8

(g)

6 2

7 3

(h)

4 3

7 4

(i)

5 2

6 3

145

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.1
8.

Calculate:
1 3
(a) 1
2 4

(b)

1 2

2 7

(c)

1 1
1
2 4

(e)

1 3

2 4

(f)

2 4
1
3 5

Calculate:
1 3
(a) 1
2 4

(b)

1 1

2 2

(c)

1 2

4 3

1 1

2 4

(e)

1 4

2 5

(f)

1 2

4 3

(b)

1
4
3 1
2
7

(c)

1 1
3

(b)

1
1
1
2
4

(c)

1
3
3 1
3
7

(b)

1 3

2 7

(c)

1
1
3
4
6

(e)

1
2
1 2
2
3

(f)

2
5
1
3
8

(d)

9.

(d)
10.

11.

Calculate:
1 3
(a) 1
2 4

Calculate:

(a)
12.

1 2

4 3

3
1
1
4
2

Calculate:

(a)

4
3
+1
7
4

(d)

1
6
1
2
7

9.2 Fractions in Context

In this section we consider the use of fractions in various contexts, and how to use
the fraction key on a calculator.

Example 1
There are 600 pupils in a school. How many school lunches must be prepared if:
(a)

3
of the pupils have school lunches,
4

(b)

2
of the pupils have school lunches?
3

146

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

Solution
(a)

3
3
of 600 =
600
4
4
1800
=
4

or

3
3 150
of 600 =
600
4
1 4

= 450 lunches

= 450 lunches
(b)

2
2
of 600 =
600
3
3
1200
=
3

or

2
2 200
of 600 =
600
3
1 3

= 400 lunches

= 400 lunches

Example 2

1
m
4

The diagram opposite shows a rectangle.

(a)

Calculate its perimeter.

(b)

Calculate its area.

Solution
Perimeter = 2

1
1
1
1
+1 + 2 +1
4
3
4
3

= 2

3
4
3
4
+1 + 2 +1
12
12
12
12

= 6

14
12

= 7

1
m
6

Area = 2

1
1
1
4
3

or

Area = 2

1
1
1
4
3

9 41

31
1 4

9 4

4 3

36
12

= 3 m2

= 3 m2

147

1
m
3

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.2
Example 3
A loaf of bread requires
6

1
kg of flour?
2

3
kg of flour. How many loaves can be made from
4

Solution
6

1 3

2 4

13 3

2
4

13 4

2
3

52
6

4
6

2
3
8 loaves can be made.
=

Many calculators have a key marked

Pressing 2

2
.
3
Pressing 4

3 produces the display

, which can be used to enter fractions.

2

which represents the

fraction

9 produces the display

, which

7
represents 4 .
9
Note that you must write the fractions in their correct form, and not just copy the
display.

(Some calculator displays may be different from this example check the
instruction booklet for your calculator.)

Exercises
1.

Use your calculator to find answers for the following, making sure that they
are written in the correct way:
1 3
5 1
3 1
+

(a)
(b)
(c)
4 7
7 3
4 9
(d)

1 1

2 6

(e)

3 7

4 8

148

(f)

4 3

5 8

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

2.

(g)

1
1 7
2

(h)

1 3

2 4

(i)

5
2
1 +4
7
3

(j)

1
2
1 1
2
3

(k)

1 3

4 4

(l)

(a)

Enter the fraction

6
and then press the =
8
Describe what happens.

key on your calculator.

(b)

8
and then press the =
6
Describe what happens.

key on your calculator.

(c)

What happens to each of the fractions listed below if you enter it into

Enter the fraction

your calculator and then press the =

3
,
7

3.

9
,
2

4
,
6

6
,
4

1
2
3
2
5

key:
10
,
3

3
10

Calculate the area and perimeter for each of the rectangles below:
(a)

2
m
3

(b)

3
m
5

1
m
2

1
m
4

4.

A school has 800 pupils. The Headteacher decides to send a questionnaire

2
to of the pupils. How many pupils receive a questionnaire?
5

5.

A firm that makes floppy discs knows that

1
of the discs they produce
20
have faults. How many faulty floppy discs would you have if you bought:
(a)

6.

7.

100 discs,

A cake recipe requires

(a)

3 kg flour,

(d)

1 kg flour,

(b)

80 discs,

(c)

2000 discs ?

3
kg of flour. How many cakes could be made with:
8
2
(b) 6 kg flour,
(c)
kg flour,
3
1
1
(e) 1 kg flour,
(f) 1 kg flour.
2
3

The rectangle opposite has an area of

3
2 cm 2 .
5
What is the length, x, of the rectangle?
149

3
cm
4
x

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.2
8.

Sheets of paper are

contains:

1
cm thick. Calculate the height of a pile of paper that
80

(a)

40 sheets,

(b)

120 sheets,

(c)

70 sheets,

(d)

140 sheets.

How many sheets would there be in a pile of paper 4

9.

1
cm high?
2

1
2
litres of orange squash. To make one drink,
of a
200
5
litre of squash is needed.

A bottle contains 1

How many drinks can be made from the bottle of squash?

10.

Calculate the volume of the following cuboid:

3
4

1
cm
5

3
cm
4

3
cm
8

9.3 Conversion of Fractions and Percentages

To convert a fraction to a percentage, multiply by 100.
To convert a percentage to a fraction, divide by 100 or multiply by

Example 1
Convert the following fractions to percentages:
(a)

17
100

(b)

9
10

(c)

3
5

(d)

3
4

(e)

1
3

(f)

1
8

150

1
.
100

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

Solution
(a)

17
1700
100 =
100
100

or

1
17
100 = 17%
1 100

or

10
9
100
1 10

= 90%

or

20
3
100
1 5

= 60%

or

25
3
100
1 4

= 75%

= 17%
(b)

9
100
10

900
10

= 90%
(c)

3
300
100 =
5
5
= 60%

(d)

3
300
100 =
4
4
= 75%

(e)

(f)

1
100
100 =
3
3
1
= 33 %
3
1
100
100 =
8
8
4
= 12
8
1
= 12 %
2

Example 2
Convert these percentages to fractions:
(a)

30%

(b)

(d)

6%

(e)

80%
1
16 %
2

Solution
(a)

30
100
3
=
10

30% =

151

(c)
(f)

45%
1
62 %
2

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.3
80
100
8
=
10

(b)

80% =

(c)

45% =

(d)

6% =

(e)

1
1
1
16 % = 16
2
2 100

45
100
9
=
20

6
100
3
=
50

33
1

2 100
33
=
200

(f)

1
1
1
62 % = 62
2
2 100
=

125
1

2
100

125
200

5
8

Example 3
A football team is based on a squad of 20 players. In one season 8 players are
shown a red or yellow card.
(a)

What percentage of the squad is shown a red or yellow card?

(b)

What percentage of the squad is not shown a red or yellow card?

Solution
(a)

(b)

8
800
100 =
20
20
= 40%

or

100 40 = 60%
152

5
8
100 = 40%
1 20

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

Exercises
1.

2.

3.

4.

Convert the following percentages to fractions:

(a)

50%

(b)

75%

(c)

40%

(d)

25%

(e)

20%

(f)

10%

(g)

8%

(h)

58%

(i)

36%

(j)

64%

(k)

76%

(l)

12%

Convert the following fractions to percentages:

(a)

7
10

(b)

1
2

(c)

1
4

(d)

3
4

(e)

7
20

(f)

6
25

(g)

19
20

(h)

17
25

(i)

3
5

(j)

1
5

(k)

11
20

(l)

7
50

Convert the following percentages to fractions:

(a)

1
12 %
2

(b)

2
66 %
3

(c)

1
33 %
3

(d)

1
14 %
2

(e)

1
18 %
2

(f)

1
4 %
4

Convert these fractions to percentages:

(a)

1
8

(b)

1
6

(c)

3
8

(d)

47
200

(e)

61
200

(f)

2
3

5.

In a class of 25 pupils there are 8 individuals who play in the school hockey
team. What percentage of the class play in the hockey team?

6.

Halim scores 32 out of 80 in a test. Express his score as a percentage.

153

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.3
7.

An athlete has completed 250 m of a 400 m race. What percentage of the

distance has the athlete run?

8.

A double decker bus has 72 seats; there are 18 empty seats on the bus.

9.

10.

(a)

What percentage of the seats are empty?

(b)

What percentage of the seats are being used?

Andy buys a bag of 12 apples at a supermarket; there are 4 bruised apples in

the bag.
(a)

What percentage of the apples are bruised?

(b)

What percentage of the apples are not bruised?

Jason took 4 tests at school and his results are given below:
Science

60 out of

80

Maths

75 out of 100

English

38 out of

50

French

28 out of

40

(a)

Express his score for each test as a percentage.

(b)

Write down his average percentage score for the 4 tests.

9.4 Finding Percentages

In this section we revise finding percentages of quantities.

Example 1
Calculate 20% of 120.

Solution
20% of 120 =
=

20
120
100
2
120
10

= 24

154

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

Example 2
Calculate 75% of 48 kg.

Solution
75% of 48 kg =
=

75
48
100
3
48
4

= 36 kg

Value Added Tax (VAT) is added to the price of many products; in the UK it is
1
1
currently 17 %. An interesting way to calculate 17 % is to use the fact that
2
2
1
1
17 = 10 + 5 + 2 ; this is illustrated in the next example.
2
2

Example 3
A bike costs 180 before VAT is added. How much VAT must be added to the
1
cost of the bike, if VAT is charged at 17 % ?
2

Solution
10%

of 180 = 18

5%

of 180 = 9

1
2 % of 180 = 4.50
2
1
17 % of 180 = 18 + 9 + 4.50
2
= 31.50

155

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.4

Exercises
1.

2.

Calculate:
(a)

50% of 22

(b)

10% of 70 m

(c)

25% of 60

(d)

30% of 80 m

(e)

60% of 40

(f)

90% of 50 kg

(g)

75% of 30

(h)

25% of 6 kg

(i)

30% of 32 kg

(j)

16% of 40

(k)

70% of 8 m

(l)

35% of 20

Use the method of Example 3 to calculate the VAT that must be added to the
1
following prices at a rate of 17 %:
2
(a) 200
(b) 300
(c) 40
(d)

3.

(a)
(b)

4.

6.

7.

8.

(e)

28

(f)

38

1
Calculate 17 % of 25
2
Describe the most sensible way to give your answer.

1
Calculate 17 % of the following amounts, giving your answers to a sensible
2
degree of accuracy:

(a)
5.

30

15

(b)

75

(c)

Use a method similar to Example 3 to calculate 15% of 120.

1
A computer costs 900, but 17 % VAT must be added to this price.
2
1
(a) Calculate 17 % of 900.
2
(b) Calculate the total cost of the computer.

A company employs 240 staff. The number of staff is to be increased by 20%.

How many new staff will the company employ?
1
A bike costs 186. The price is to be reduced by 33 % in a sale.
3
(a) Calculate how much you would save by buying the bike in the sale.

(b)

How much would you pay for the bike in the sale?

9.

In a school there are 280 pupils in Year 7. 85% of these pupils go on a trip to
Alton Towers. How many pupils go on the trip?

10.

Alec scores 75% on a test with a maximum of 56 marks. How many marks
does Alec score in the test?

156

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.5 Increasing and Decreasing Quantities

by a Percentage
When increasing or decreasing by a percentage there are two possible approaches:
one is to find the actual increase or decrease and to add it to, or subtract it from,
the original amount. The second approach is to use a simple multiplication. For
example, to increase by 20%, multiply by 1.2. We can illustrate this by
considering a price, say p , that increases by 20%.
The increase is

20
100

= 0.2 p

so the new price is

p + 0.2 p = (1 + 0.2) p
= 1.2p
and we can see that a 20% increase is equivalent to multiplying by 1.2 to get the
new price.
Note that
100% + 20% = 120%

120
= 1.2
100

Similarly, a decrease of 20% is equivalent to

100% 20% = 80%

80
= 0.8
100

i.e. a multiplication by 0.8.

Example 1
The price of a jar of coffee is 2.00. Calculate the new price after an increase
of 10%.

Solution
10% of 2.00 =

10
2
100

or

= 0.2

100% + 10% = 110%,

so multiply by 1.1

New price = 2 + 0.2

New price = 1.1 2

= 2.20

= 2.20

157

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.5
Example 2

In a sale, the price of a TV is reduced by 40%. What is the sale price if the original
price was 170.

Solution
40% of 170

40
170
100

100% 40% = 60%,

or

= 68
Sale price

so multiply by 0.6

= 170 68

Sale price = 0.6 170

= 102

= 102

Example 3
Jared earns 24 each week by working in a shop. His wages are to be increased by
5%. How much will he then earn each week?

Solution
5% of 24 =

5
24
100

100% + 5%

or

= 1.20

= 105%,

so multiply by 1.05

New wages = 24 + 1.20

New wages = 1.05 24

= 25.20

= 25.20

Exercises
1.

Add 10% to:

(a)

2.

3.

40

(b)

136

(c)

262

(c)

340

Reduce the following prices by 20%:

(a)

50

(b)

92

(a)

Increase 40 m by 30%

(b)

Increase 60 by 5%

(c)

Increase 66 by 20%

(d)

Increase 80 kg by 40%

(e)

Increase 1000 by 30%

(f)

Decrease 60 by 25%

(g)

Reduce 70 kg by 5%

(h)

Reduce 90 by 15%

(i)

Increase 40 m by 7%

(j)

Increase 18 by 4%

158

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

4.

A computer costs 600. In a sale there is a 20% discount on the price of the
item. Calculate the sale price of the computer.

5.

A shopkeeper increases all the prices in his shop by 4%. What is the new
price of each of the items below? Give your answers to the nearest penny.
Box of chocolates

Bag of flour

75p

Packet of sweets

50p

Tin of beans

20p

Can of drink

45p

6.

A CD player costs 90. In a sale the price is reduced by 25%. Calculate the
sale price.

7.

A certain type of calculator costs 8. A teacher buys 30 of these calculators

for her school and is given a 20% discount. How much does she pay in
total?

8.

1
Add 17 % VAT to the following prices, giving your answers to the nearest
2
pence:

(a)

400

(b)

22

(c)

65

9.

The population of a town is 120 000. What is the total population of the
town after a 5% increase?

10.

Hannah invests 800 in a building society. Every year 5% interest is added

to her money.

11.

(a)

Explain why, after 2 years she has 882 in her account.

(b)

How much money does she have after 5 years? (Give your answer to
the nearest pence.)

Andrew has 100 to invest in a building society. At the end of each year,
10% interest is added to his investment.
(a)

What is the multiplier that can be used each year to calculate the new
amount in the account?

(b)

Show that the multiplier for 2 years is 1.21.

(c)

What is the multiplier for n years?

(d)

How many years does it take to double the 100 investment?

159

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.6 Finding the Percentage Increase

and Decrease
When a quantity increases, we can find the percentage increase using this
formula:
Percentage increase =

increase
100
original amount

Percentage decrease =

decrease
100
original amount

Similarly,

Example 1
The price of a drink increases from 40p to 45p. What is the percentage increase?

Solution
Increase = 45p 40 p
= 5p
Percentage increase =
=

5
100
40
25
2

= 12.5%

Example 2
The number of pupils in a school increases from 820 to 861. Calculate the
percentage increase.

Solution
Increase = 861 820
= 41 pupils
Percentage increase =

41
100
820

= 5%
160

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

Example 3
Although the lion is thought of as an African animal, there is a small population in
India and elsewhere in Asia. The number of lions in India decreased from 6000 to
3900 over a 10-year period. Calculate the percentage decrease in this period.

Solution
Decrease = 6000 3900
= 2100 lions
Percentage decrease =

2100
100
6000

= 35%

Example 4
The price of cheese, per kg, is increased from 3.26 to 3.84. What is the
percentage increase?

Solution
Increase = 3.84 3.26
= 0.58
Percentage increase =

0.58
100
3.26

= 17.8% to 1 decimal place

Note: You might find it easier to work through the example in pence, but note
that all quantities must be expressed in pence.
Increase =

(384 326) p

= 58p
Percentage increase

58
100
326
= 17.8% to 1 decimal place

Example 5
In a sale, the price of a bike is reduced from 180 to 138. Calculate the
percentage reduction in price, correct to 1 decimal place.

161

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.6
Solution
Reduction = 180 138
= 42
Percentage reduction =

42
100
180

= 23.3% to 1 decimal place.

Exercises
1.

The price of a school lunch increases from 1.40 to 1.54. Calculate the
percentage increase in the price.

2.

A television priced at 500 is reduced in price to 400 in a sale. Calculate

the percentage reduction in the price of the television.

3.

The price of a car increases from 8000 to 8240. What is the percentage
increase in the price of the car?

4.

A shopkeeper buys notepads for 60p each and sells them for 80p each.
What percentage of the selling price is profit?

5.

The value of an antique clock increases from 300 to 345. Calculate the
percentage increase in the value of the clock.

6.

The number of books in a school library is increased from 2220 to 2354.

What is the percentage increase in the number of books?

7.

The height of a tomato plant increases from 80 cm to 95 cm. Calculate the

percentage increase in the height, correct to 1 decimal place.

8.

The price of a bus fare is reduced from 55p to 40p. Calculate the
percentage reduction in the price of the bus fare, correct to 1 decimal place.

9.

The mass of a person on a diet decreases from 75 kg to 74 kg. Calculate

the percentage reduction in their mass, correct to 3 significant figures.

162

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

10.

Jasmine invests 250 in a building society. After the first year her account
contains 262.50. After the second year it contains 280.88. Calculate the
percentage increase of the amount in her account:
(a)

during the first year,

(b)

during the second year,

(c)

over the two years.

Give your answers correct to 2 decimal places.

9.7 Reverse Percentage Calculations

The process of adding a percentage to a quantity can be reversed.
1
For example, if the cost of a portable TV is 141 including 17 % VAT, the cost
2
before adding the VAT can be found. The multiplier in this example is 1.175, as
the price is made up of 100% + 17.5% = 117.5%, which is equivalent to
multiplying by
117.5
100

= 1.175

Original price
120

1.175

141

1.175

141

Example 1
Jane's salary was increased by 10% to 9350. What was her original salary?

Solution
100% + 10% = 110%,
110
= 1.1
100
Therefore Jane's original salary would have been multiplied by 1.1 to give 9350.
which =

So to calculate her original salary, divide by 1.1.

Original salary
8500

1.1

1.1

9350
9350

163

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

9.7
Example 2

In a sale, the price of a video recorder is reduced by 22% to 218.40. How much
money would you save by buying the video recorder in the sale?

Solution
100% 22% = 78%
=

78
100

= 0.78
The original price would have been multiplied by 0.78 to get the sale price. So
divide by 0.78 to find the original price.
Original price

0.78

0.78

280

218.40

218.40

Saving = Original price Sale price

= 280 218.40
= 61.60

Example 3
1
The cost of an order, including VAT at 17 %, is 274.95.
2
Calculate the cost of the order without VAT.

Solution
Original cost

234

1.175

1.175

274.95

274.95

Cost of the order without VAT is 234.00.

164

MEP Y8 Practice Book A

Exercises
1.

In a sale the prices of all the clothes in a shop are reduced by 20%.
Calculate the original prices of the items below:
Item

Sale Price

Jeans

36

Coat

56

Shirt

14

2.

The price of a car is increased by 4% to 12 480. What was the original

price?

3.

The amount that Jason earns for his paper round is increased by 2% to
21.93 per week. How much extra money does Jason now get each week?

4.

A special value packet of breakfast cereal contains 25% more than the
standard packet. The special value packet contains 562.5 grams of cereal.
How much does the standard packet contain?

5.

1
The bill for repairing a computer is 29.38 which includes VAT at 17 %.
2
What was the bill before the VAT was added?

6.

The height of a plant increases by 18%, to 26 cm. Calculate the original

height of the plant, correct to the nearest cm.

7.

A 3.5% pay rise increases Mr Smith's annual salary to 21 735. What was
his original salary?

8.

The price of a bike in a sale is 145. If the original price has been reduced
1
by 12 % , what was the original price? (Give your answer to the nearest
2
pence.)

9.

Alice carries out an experiment to record how quickly plants grow. One
plant increases in height from 12.0 cm to 13.8 cm in one week. A second
plant increases by the same percentage to 16.1 cm. What was the original
height of the second plant?

10.

James buys a computer. The seller reduces the price by 30% and adds VAT
at 17.5%. If James pays 1551 for the computer, what was its original
price? (Give your answer to the nearest pence.)

165